Are you a freshwater aquarist looking to make a splash in the saltwater hobby with a reef aquarium? Setting up a reef aquarium means getting accustomed to monitoring new water parameters such as calcium, alkalinity, trace elements, and salinity. Our must-have picks for the beginning reef hobbyist, below, help simplify keeping stable water parameters:

calcium, alkalinity, and trace element supplementsIn order to keep a healthy reef system, you need to maintain proper levels of calcium, alkalinity, and trace elements in the water. Instead of buying three separate products to do the trick, purchase a combination supplement such as
C-Balance which replenishes all three.

reef test kitInvest in a test kit that checks reef system specific water parameters. Specialized magnesium, silica, and iodine test kits are also available.

calcium monitor and refractometerSaltwater coral, fish, and invertebrates are incredibly sensitive to water conditions, so spend a little extra on specialized testing equipment, such as a calcium monitor or refractometer. A
digital calcium monitor can provide accurate, easy to read results with the push of a button. A
refractometer will give you precise salinity and specific gravity levels from a drop of aquarium water.

Part 2 of the Reef Consideration series outlines some of the
best coral picks for the beginner reef hobbyist.